British Rail Tours Know which side to sit
Royal Scotsman: The Highlands
Luxury trainScottish Highlands

Royal Scotsman: The Highlands

Edinburgh Waverley → Highlands circular via Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh and Boat of Garten
Sit on the right 42 upcoming dates Photos
Photo: Peter Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • SeasonApril to October
  • RunsRegular departures through the season
  • DurationTwo, three or four nights
  • TractionDiesel (GB Railfreight Class 66; Class 99 from 2027)
  • OperatorBelmond Royal Scotsman

Belmond's sleeper cruise train from Edinburgh through the Highlands with private cabins, Scottish dining, excursions and a Dior spa.

The Highlands is the Royal Scotsman's classic itinerary, offered in two, three and four night versions. Leaving Edinburgh Waverley, the train crosses the Forth Bridge and heads north via Perth and the Cairngorms to the Moray coast at Keith, continues to Inverness and the Kyle line for Kyle of Lochalsh, and stops at Boat of Garten on the Strathspey Railway before returning to Edinburgh.

Guests sleep on board in twin, double or Grand Suite cabins with en suite bathrooms, dine in the Raven and Swift restaurant cars on Scottish produce and enjoy an open observation veranda, a bar car with evening entertainment and a Dior spa. Excursions to distilleries, castles and estates, plus all meals, drinks and transfers, are included.

Haulage is by GB Railfreight, currently with Class 66 diesels; Belmond has announced a change to Class 99 dual-mode locomotives from 2027.

Which side to sit

Edinburgh Waverley → Highlands circular via Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh and Boat of Garten

The Moray, Beauly and Cromarty firths, Loch Carron and the views over to Skye are all on the right heading west.

Sit on the right0 sights on the left · 4 on the right
  1. 0mi
    StationKeithOvernight after day one
  2. 18mi
    StationElgin
  3. 30mi
    StationForres
  4. 40mi
    StationNairn
  5. 45mi
    CoastMoray FirthGlimpses of the firth towards Inverness
  6. 55mi
    StationInverness
  7. 56mi
    Bridge · on the lineClachnaharry Swing BridgeOver the Caledonian Canal
  8. 58mi
    EstuaryBeauly FirthAlong the southern shore
  9. 74mi
    Junction · on the lineDingwallKyle line leaves the Far North line
  10. 85mi
    StationGarve
  11. 89mi
    Loch · both sidesLoch Luichart
  12. 101mi
    StationAchnasheenRemote moorland passing point
  13. 109mi
    River · both sidesGlen CarronDescent through the glen past Achnashellach forest
  14. 119mi
    StationStrathcarron
  15. 121mi
    LochLoch CarronSea loch views along the southern shore
  16. 133mi
    StationPlocktonPalm-lined village on a sheltered bay
  17. 136mi
    CoastIsle of SkyeSkye and the Skye Bridge across the water
  18. 137mi
    StationKyle of Lochalsh

Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.

Upcoming dates

DateFromTractionStatus
Fri 2 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 5 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 12 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 19 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 23 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 26 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 30 Apr 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Wed 5 May 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Wed 19 May 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 24 May 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 28 May 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 7 Jun 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 21 Jun 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 25 Jun 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 28 Jun 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 12 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 16 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 19 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights). Shown as unavailable on the operator booking calendar.		 — See operator
Wed 21 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 26 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 30 Jul 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 2 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights). Shown as unavailable on the operator booking calendar.		 — See operator
Fri 6 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 9 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 16 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Wed 25 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 27 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 30 Aug 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Wed 8 Sep 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (2 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 17 Sep 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 20 Sep 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 27 Sep 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 1 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 4 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 8 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 11 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 15 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 18 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 22 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 25 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale
Fri 29 Oct 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (3 nights).		 — On sale
Mon 1 Nov 2027
13:45		 Edinburgh Waverley
The Highlands (4 nights).		 — On sale

On board

  • Dining
  • Premier dining
  • Bar
  • Sleeper berths
  • Multi-day
  • Coach transfers

Highlights

  • Forth Bridge
  • Kyle line to Kyle of Lochalsh
  • Cairngorms and Strathspey
  • Included distillery and castle visits
  • Dior spa car

Classes of travel

Twin CabinDouble CabinGrand Suite

Photos of the Royal Scotsman: The Highlands

3 photos · tap to enlarge
The Royal Scotsman at Garve on the Kyle line
The Royal Scotsman at Garve on the Kyle line
The Forth Bridge seen from Dalmeny
The Forth Bridge seen from Dalmeny
Boat of Garten station on the Strathspey Railway
Boat of Garten station on the Strathspey Railway
Before you book: charter trains depend on locomotive availability and Network Rail engineering work. Steam can be swapped for diesel at short notice, so check the operator’s terms for what happens then. When you book, ask for a seat on the side we recommend: most operators allocate seats but will note a preference.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests are on board?

Under forty, in eighteen cabins across five sleeping cars.

Is there a dress code?

Smart casual by day and formal for dinner; kilts are common.

Are there longer trips?

Yes, up to the seven-night Grand Tour of Scotland, and whisky and heritage homes themed itineraries.

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